Frequently Asked Questions

Visa Application Fee: Adults GBP 52,20, Children aged between 6 and 12 GBP 30.50 (either in cash or by "Postal Orders" issued to the Austrian Embassy. Sorry, we cannot accept cheques or credit cards.)

Due to a bilateral agreement the Visa Application Fee for applicants of the following countries amount to GBP 30.50: Russian Federation, Ukraine, Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Moldova
Minors under the age of 6 years: Visa Application is free of charge

Nationals from the following list of countries should allow several weeks for the processing of the application from the date of appointment/receipt of documents:

Afghanistan

Bangladesh, Belarus

China (only diplomatic passports)

Congo (Democratic Republic), 

Egypt

Ghana

Indonesia, Irak, Iran

Jemen, Jordan

Kasakhstan,  Korea (People’s Democratic Republic)

Lebanon, Liberia, Libya

Mauritania, Moldova,

Nigeria,

Pakistan, Palestine, Philippines

Ruanda, Russia (only Service passports),

Refugees (blue, brown and black travel documents – red travel documents are visafree for Austria)

Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria

Togo

United Arab Emirates

Vietnam

Emergencies:
In case of an emergency please make the Visa Information Service (Tel. 020 3002 5963 or (43) 1 229 7210) aware of circumstances that justify an emergency appointment and prepare relevant documents to prove your situation, i.e. invitation to a funeral, hospital treatment of close relatives together with the contact details in Austria. The Visa Information Service will forward your request to the Austrian Embassy and once the emergency situation has been investigated and confirmed we will contact you to arrange an emergency appointment.

For all other nationals the processing time is approx. 3 working days.
Please note that the visa cannot be issued on the same day.

YES!

No, unfortunately we cannot accept postal applications. 

No. Holders of Schengen visas are still subject to immigration controls and are not guaranteed entry into any of the Schengen countries.

You may use your visa to travel to the Schengen area until the date it expires under "expiry" on the right side of the visa. Please check your visa carefully before you go to Austria.

You can download it from our webpage (see above).
You can fill it in at the Embassy.

Yes. If you do not lodge copies we will have to keep the original.

I have booked my flight / hotel over the internet and received an email as confirmation. Do you accept this? Yes. However, it has to be clear from the email that you have paid for it. 

The Austrian Embassy does have a telephone-based appointment scheduling system for Visa and Residence Permits.
The service is available via a local UK number 020 300 259 36 and a local Austrian number  0043 1 229 7210. Operating hours for the Visa Information Service are Monday to Friday 8.00 am to 5.00 pm. In order to access the service you need a credit card, which will be charged with the equivalent of 12,50 Euros for the call. Information is available in English and German.

The Visa Information Service is operated on behalf of the Austrian Foreign Ministry by CSC.

Applicants who do not wish to make use of this service will be able to make appointments directly at the Austrian Embassy on Wednesdays between 2.00 pm and 3.00 pm. THIS WILL BE FOR SCHEDULING AN APPOINTMENT ONLY. Pleae bring your passport. We will not process applications on Wednesdays afternoon. Please be advised that by coming to the Embassy directly rather than contacting the Visa Information Service you might encounter longer waiting times in securing an appointment.

You have to apply at the Home Office for an extension of your UK residency permit before applying for a Schengen visa.

A full national passport or official travel document valid for more than 3 months beyond the validity of the requested visa, with a blank visa page to affix the visa sticker. Your British Residence Permit must also exceed by more than 3 months the validity of the requested visa. Exception will be made (1 month) for people returning for good to their country on presentation of their travel tickets.

Applications from non-UK residents (UK tourist/business or C visa) will no longer be accepted. You do have to apply in the country of your origin.

Basically, you have to provide the same documents as for a single trip to Austria. Additionally, please provide an itinerary and bookings with your exact route.

You have to apply at the Austrian Embassy.

The visa officer dealing with your application will inform you when you can collect your passport. The general collection time is Monday to Friday between 9 and 11.30 am. To collect your passport you have to bring the receipt received when you applied. If you loose this receipt we are unable to give out the passport.

Can my passport be posted back to me?
Yes. If you provide a special delivery envelope we will post your passport back once the visa is issued. Please remember the 13 digit reference number stated at the special delivery/recorded envelope (in order to track the sent item on the following website: www.royalmail.com).

Will I get the visa on the same day?
No. We do not issue visas on the same day.

Do I have to collect my passport exactly on the date given by the visa officer?
No. Your passport is ready for collection from this day onwards. Therefore you can come any day afterwards during our collection time (Monday to Friday from 9 to 10 am).

Do I have to collect my passport myself?
No. We hand out the passport according to the receipts. Whoever presents your receipt will be handed out the passport. Therefore we recommend you keep the receipt in a safe place.

No. You have to apply for a new passport first.

Yes (exception children under the age of 16, when travelling with the parents)

If your visa is valid for enough days to cover your trip to Austria and allows multiple entries you are able to use it for your trip to Austria.

If your visa does not allow multiple entries or you do not have enough days left you will have to have the visa cancelled by the Embassy who issued it.

Yes. However, if we issue a single entry visa we issue it on the basis of the documents you have submitted (in this case a trip to Austria). If you travel to another country instead we have to assume you have submitted fake documents when you applied and therefore might not issue another visa.

No. However, if you leave the Schengen area (i.e. go to Croatia, ...) and then go back to the Schengen area you will need a multiply entry visa.

The processing time for your application should not be in excess of 3 working days provided you lodge all the supporting documents. However, for some countries the processing time is up to several weeks. Please apply well in advance for your visa.

Yes. However, you have to return your passport in order for us to stick the visa into your passport. The passport will then stay overnight with us and you can collect it on the following day.

Only an “Electronic letter of invitation“  (elektronische Verpflichtungserklärung) = EVE can be accepted:

This service is free of charge and provided by the local aliens police (or District Commission, Federal Police Directorate and at any police station in Vienna). Please check with the nearest police station to find out where you can submit the EVE.

The police station dealing with your EVE will forward the information to the Austrian Embassy within 48 hours. You will receive an ID-number which the visa applicant should provide at the interview.

Documents required for an EVE are:                

·         Passport or Personal ID Card

·         Police registration

·         Recent bank statement

·         Last payslip

·         Tenancy Agreement

·         Passport number of visa applicant

·         Date of birth of visa applicant

·         Place of birth of visa applicant

·         Address of visa applicant

Please note that Verpflichtungserklärungen legalized by a notary are no longer accepted.

In general you do require a residency permit. Please contact us via email visa.london-ob@bmeia.gv.at  quoting the reason for your extended stay. We will deal with every enquiry on an individual basis. However, general information on residency permits can be found on MA35 www.magwien.gv.at, www.bmi.gv.at or Help-Service.

Please note that we are unable to indicate the outcome of multiple entry visa applications, as we need to ensure that all the necessary documentation originals have been seen and approved.

However, multiple visas will only be issued if you can proof sufficiently why you have to go to the Schengen area for several times. If all other documents are in order, we might then be able to issue a multiple entry visa.

Please note that we are unable to indicate the outcome of the visa applications for a 90 day visa, as we need to ensure that all the necessary documentation originals have been seen and approved.

However, 90 day visas will only be issued if you can proof sufficiently why you have to go to the Schengen area for several times. If all other documents are in order, we might then be able to issue a 90 day visa.

Yes.

Yes.

Yes. If your nationality is not listed amongst those who require a visa you do not require a visa.

You have to submit your latest and most up to date bank statement showing a positive balance or traveller cheques worth 30 Pounds per day of your intended stay. Please note that we do not accept credit card statements or pay slips.

Please provide a confirmation letter of your registration. If the organiser provides hotel accommodation and books your flight ask them to confirm this in writing. We do accept this as supporting document.